India’s Upcoming Home Season Fixtures Announced: West Indies and South Africa Tours Set for 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the fixtures for Team India’s 2025 home season, setting the stage for an action-packed cricketing calendar. Revealed on April 2, 2025, the schedule features bilateral series against West Indies and South Africa, spanning Test matches, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). This announcement, made just ahead of the IPL 2025 season’s progression, has cricket fans buzzing with excitement as India prepares to host two formidable teams starting October 2025. A historic highlight is Guwahati’s debut as a Test venue, marking a significant moment for Indian cricket.  

India’s home season will commence with a two-match Test series against West Indies, beginning October 2, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The second Test will follow from October 10 at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens. This series marks the first chapter of India’s home engagements in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, offering a crucial opportunity to accumulate points early. West Indies, known for their flair and unpredictability, will look to challenge India’s dominance on home soil, where the hosts have lost just three Test series since 2000.  

The Ahmedabad opener promises a high-octane clash, with the world’s largest cricket stadium expected to draw massive crowds. Kolkata, with its rich cricketing heritage, will host the second Test, where spinners traditionally thrive on the turning Eden Gardens pitch. Fans can anticipate thrilling battles between India’s batting stalwarts like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill and West Indies’ pace attack, potentially led by Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph.  

Following the West Indies series, India will welcome South Africa for an all-format tour starting November 14, 2025. The series begins with two Test matches, followed by three ODIs and a blockbuster five-match T20I series, concluding on December 21. This tour is poised to be the highlight of India’s 2025 home season, pitting two cricketing powerhouses against each other across all three formats.  

The Test series kicks off in New Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on November 14, with the second Test scheduled for November 23 at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Guwahati hosting its maiden Test is a landmark event, expanding India’s Test venues beyond traditional hubs like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The Assam Cricket Association has worked tirelessly to prepare the venue, and local fans are eager to witness international cricket of this stature. South Africa, with their potent pace attack featuring Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, will test India’s batting lineup on pitches that could offer early assistance to fast bowlers.  

The ODI series begins on December 5 in Nagpur at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, followed by matches in Hyderabad (December 8) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium and Chennai (December 11) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. These games will serve as vital preparation for both teams ahead of future ICC events, with India aiming to fine-tune their 50-over strategy post the 2025 Champions Trophy.  

The T20I leg, featuring five matches, starts on December 13 in Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Subsequent games will be held in Rajkot (December 15), Mumbai (December 17), Visakhapatnam (December 19), and Kolkata (December 21). This extended T20I series, a rare occurrence in bilateral cricket, underscores the format’s growing prominence and offers a prelude to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Expect fireworks from players like Suryakumar Yadav and Heinrich Klaasen, who could light up these high-scoring venues. 

Guwahati’s inclusion as a Test venue is a standout feature of the 2025 home season. The Barsapara Cricket Stadium, which has previously hosted ODIs and T20Is, will now join the elite list of India’s Test grounds. BCCI secretary Jay Shah hailed the move, stating, “This is a proud moment for Assam and a step towards taking cricket to every corner of India.” The venue’s modern facilities and passionate fanbase promise an electric atmosphere for the India-South Africa clash.  

India’s home record against West Indies and South Africa adds intrigue to the fixtures. Against West Indies, India have won 11 of 23 home Tests, losing just twice, with their last defeat coming in 1983. South Africa, however, have proven tougher opponents, winning two of their last five Tests in India during the 2019 series. The Proteas’ ability to adapt to spin-friendly conditions, thanks to players like Keshav Maharaj, will make the Test series a compelling contest.  

For India, the 2025 home season will spotlight emerging talents and seasoned stars. Shubman Gill, likely to lead in Tests if Rohit Sharma opts for a break, will be under scrutiny after a mixed 2024. Jasprit Bumrah’s pace and Ravichandran Ashwin’s spin will be key against both teams. In white-ball formats, expect Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant to shine, especially in the T20Is against South Africa.  

West Indies will bank on Kraigg Brathwaite’s resilience and their young pace brigade, while South Africa’s Temba Bavuma and Aiden Markram will aim to anchor the batting. Kagiso Rabada’s duel with India’s top order could define the Test series, while Quinton de Kock’s explosive form will be critical in the ODIs and T20Is.  

The 2025 home season is more than just a series of matches—it’s a stepping stone for India’s ambitions in the WTC and beyond. With the IPL dominating March to May, this October-December window is India’s primary chance to assert home dominance before a busy 2026, including the T20 World Cup. A strong performance could also boost India’s confidence after a challenging 2024, marked by a Test series loss to New Zealand and an ODI whitewash by Sri Lanka.  

For fans, the season offers a mix of tradition and innovation. The Test matches uphold cricket’s longest format, while the five T20Is against South Africa cater to the modern game’s fast-paced demands. Venues like Chennai, Kolkata, and Mumbai bring nostalgia, while Guwahati and Visakhapatnam signal the BCCI’s push to expand cricket’s footprint.  

India’s 2025 home season fixtures, announced by the BCCI, promise a cricketing extravaganza from October to December. With West Indies and South Africa touring, fans can expect intense battles across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Guwahati’s Test debut adds a historic twist, while the multi-format South Africa series will test India’s versatility. As the Men in Blue gear up, this season could define their trajectory in the WTC and white-ball cricket. Stay tuned for live updates and in-depth coverage as India’s home season unfolds!